Netcong terminal charged in fuel-oil spill

NETCONG -- The Morris County Prosecutor's Office yesterday filed charges against Royal Terminals for its role in a 3,000-gallon fuel oil spill that ran off into a Musconetcong River tributary.

Charged with one count of discharging a pollutant without a valid state permit were Royal Terminals and the company's owner, 70-year-old Seymour Rosenfarb of Chester, as well as the site manager of the 14 Flanders Road facility, 60-year-old Stephen Rivera of Andover.

The charges stem from the Nov. 26, 2007 spill that occurred during a delivery of fuel oil to the terminal. The terminal's above-ground storage tank being filled with fuel oil overflowed, allowing approximately 3,000 gallons of fuel oil to spill. The fuel oil went initially onto the ground and subsequently, because of an ineffective containment system, migrated to a nearby storm drain and ultimately entered into a tributary of the Musconetcong River.

The arrest was the result of a continuing investigation conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Arson and Environmental Crimes Unit, Netcong Police Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Division of Criminal Justice Environmental Crimes Bureau.

Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi commented: "We are committed to preserving our precious natural resources from contamination by persons who so carelessly violate the sanctity of same. This investigation and charges represent our commitment to aggressively prosecute those who dare to irreparably harm our environment for our future generations, and our commitment to protect the wildlife whose survival depends upon keeping our environment free from being poisoned".

The investigation is ongoing and Bianchi is asking anyone that may have information to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at (973) 285-6200.